System comprising a device necessitating the reception of linearly polarized beams and corresponding method

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to any field of application using processing that necessitates the reception of linearly polarized beams. In particular, the invention can be used in array antenna beam-shaping and aiming systems that use delay generation with polarization switching. The proposed system does not call for the use of polarization maintaining elements upline from the processing device, necessitating the reception of linearly polarized beams at input. The proposed system comprises: an element for the splitting of polarizations in open space, placed upline with respect to said processing device, said processing device itself, a polarization switch placed downline with respect to said processing device, an element for the superposing of polarization in open space, downline from said polarization switch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to any field of application using processing that necessitates the reception of linearly polarized beams. In particular, the invention can be used in array antenna beam-shaping and aiming systems that use delay generation with polarization switching.

[0003] Unlike the generation of phase shifts between the elements of an array antenna, the generation of true delays gives an aiming direction that does not depend on the frequency.

[0004] Microwave delays can be created by optical means. The use of optics to convey microwave signals gives devices that have low dependency on the electrical frequency conveyed. These properties are especially valuable in electronic scanning antennas that have to work in a wide frequency band. Furthermore, devices using optics have reduced mass and space requirements.

[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] Multiple devices for the creation of microwave delays by optical means are known.

[0007] The patent Thomson-CSF FR 2659754 proposes a device of this kind using polarization switches. FIG. 1 gives a schematic view of an example of this multiple device 5 for the creation of delays (hereinafter called a multiple delay-correction device) using polarization switches CP_(i) (1≦i≦n). Delays in several parallel optical paths can be commanded by means of polarization switches CP_(i) consisting for example of matrices of pixels such as spatial light modulators, liquid crystal matrices, etc. Since the optical carriers are modulated by microwave signals, the delays will also be applied to these signals.

[0008] The association of several switches CP_(i) consisting of pixel arrays, polarization splitter/recombiner elements SP_(i) and reflector elements R_(i) achieve the quantified control of the delay of each optical channel. Indeed, by controlling each pixel of a given polarization switch Cp_(i), the delay that will be undergone by each path at the crossing of the assembly [Sp_(i), R_(i)] (direct or delayed route) is determined in binary fashion.

[0009] This concept has the advantage of providing for a multiple processing of the different spatially separated optical channels.

[0010]FIG. 2 shows a possible implementation of a multiple delay-creation device 5 using prior art polarization switches CP. This exemplary application is the supply of an antenna array working in transmission (with beam-shaping at transmission).

[0011] A modulated optical source 1 gives a beam to the coupler 2. The coupler 2 maintains the polarization and distributes the entering beams to the polarization-maintaining fibers 3 _(M). These beams are transmitted by the fibers 3 _(M) though the array of lenses 4 _(M) to the multiple delay-creation device 5 using polarization switches CP. The processed beams (delayed or not) at output of the multiple delay-creation device 5 are transmitted to the photodetectors 6 through the array of lenses 4 _(V) and the optical fibers 3 _(V) for which the maintaining of the polarization is not necessary. The array of lenses 4 _(M) and 4 _(V) provide for accurate coupling between the fibers 3 _(M) and 3 _(V) respectively and the multiple delay-creation device 5. Each photodetector 6 is connected to an antenna element or sub-array 7.

[0012] In order that the selection of a delay by polarization switching may be efficient, the polarization switch must receive a linearly polarized beam. This is why the implementation of the multiple delay-creation device 5 with polarization switches CP_(i) described in the patent FR 2659754 requires polarization-maintaining elements 2 and 3 _(M) upline from the multiple delay-creation device 5. This constraint is not negligible because these polarization-maintaining elements, couplers 2 for example, of the fibers 3 _(M) are more costly and more difficult to implement than elements that do not maintain polarization.

[0013] The present invention is used to overcome or at least reduce these drawbacks by proposing an alternative solution.

SUMMARY THE INVENTION

[0014] It proposes a system comprising a processing device that necessitates the reception of linearly polarized beams at input wherein it furthermore comprises at least one element for polarization splitting in open space, placed upline from said device.

[0015] This system may comprise for example:

[0016] a polarization switch downline from said device, and

[0017] an element for superposing polarization in open space downline from the polarization switch.

[0018] The invention furthermore proposes a method comprising a step for the processing of linearly polarized beams, the method comprising at least the splitting of polarizations in open space achieved prior to said processing step.

[0019] This method for example comprises the following steps:

[0020] an additional polarization switching achieved after said processing step, and

[0021] the superposing of polarization in open space achieved after said additional switching step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The characteristics and advantages of the invention shall appear more clearly from the following description given by way of an example and the appended figures, of which:

[0023]FIG. 1 shows an example of a multiple delay-creation device 5 using prior art polarization switches CP_(i),

[0024]FIG. 2 exemplifies the implementation of a multiple delay-creation device 5 using prior art polarization switches CP_(i),

[0025]FIG. 3 shows a system implementing a processing method 5 _(G) necessitating the reception of linearly polarized beams according to the invention,

[0026] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show the system of FIG. 3 implementing a multiple delay-creation device 5 _(G) comprising respectively two identical multiple delay-creation devices such as the one of FIG. 1 and a multiple delay-creation device common to both routes, according to the invention.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027]FIG. 3 proposes an example according to the invention of a system implementing a processing device 5 _(G) that necessitates upline maintaining of polarization.

[0028] In the present example, the initial optical beams are transmitted by means of optical fibers 3 _(M), that do not necessitate polarization maintaining, and an array of lenses 4 _(M) to an element for the splitting polarization in open space 5 _(M). This splitter element 5 _(M), comprising for example a polarization splitter 51 _(M) and a mirror 52 _(M), is placed upline with respect to the device 5 _(G), to which it delivers a group of polarization beams ↑ and a group of orthogonal polarization beams {circle over (•)} (the symbols ↑ and {circle over (•)} indicate the orientation of the polarization). The two groups of beams entering the device 5 _(G) are therefore linearly polarized as required by the processing operations contained in this device 5 _(G). The device 5 _(G) may for example be a multiple delay-creation device 5 with polarization switches CP_(i) such as the one shown in FIG. 1. The splitter element 5 _(M) generates the doubling of the number of pixels of the multiple delay-creation device 5 as compared with the solution using polarization maintaining elements (fibers, etc.).

[0029] The two polarization states coming from a given initial beam undergo the same processing by the device 5 _(G). For example, the multiple delay-creation device 5 applies identical delays to the two orthogonal polarization beams coming from an initial beam. Each group of beams processed at output of the device 5 _(G) goes through a polarization switch CP⁺ used to determine the polarization of each of the groups at its output.

[0030] The additional switch CP⁺may for example have either 2N pixels or two switches CP¹⁺ and CP²⁺ with N pixels (not shown in the figures), one for each of the two groups of beams.

[0031] The role of the polarization switch CP⁺ is twofold and differs from the role of the polarization switches CP_(i) of the multiple delay-creation device 5 of FIG. 1 responsible for selecting the direct or delayed route that must be followed by a given initial beam. Indeed, the switch CP⁺ ensures that,

[0032] 1) all the beams of a group whose polarization was respectively ↑ and {circle over (•)} before processing by the device 5 _(G) are in a same polarization at output of CP⁺, and that

[0033] 2) the polarization of the first group of beams is orthogonal to the polarization of the second group of beams.

[0034] This makes it possible, first of all, to reorganize the polarization of the beams of the two groups which are modified by the use of the different polarization switches CP_(i) of the multiple delay-creation device 5 _(G). Furthermore, this enables the polarizing of the two groups of beams according to the position of the polarization superimposing element 51,, with respect to the polarization switch CP+ such that the two groups of beams at output of the device 5 _(G) are recombined by the polarization superposing element 51 _(V).

[0035] The initial beams may then be reconstituted by means of the open space superposing element 5 _(V). This open space superposing element 5 _(V) placed after the polarization switch CP⁺ superposes signals coming from the previously split polarizations, for example by means of a device using a mirror 52 _(V) and a polarization splitter mirror 51 _(V) (herein playing the role of a recombiner). The post-processing superposition of the two polarization states coming from a given initial beam therefore mitigates the fluctuations in levels that may exist between either of the polarization states. The beams thus processed are sent to a user circuit, for example through the network of lenses 4 _(V) and the fibers 3 _(V) not requiring polarization maintenance.

[0036] In one possible variant of the system the fibers 3 _(M) and 3 _(V) and the lenses 4 _(M) and 4 _(V) are replaced by system for the propagation of the beams in open space.

[0037] Furthermore, the polarization splitters 51 _(M) and 51 _(V) may for example be polarization splitting cubes but it is also possible to consider using other elements such as, for example, spatial splitters using birefringent materials and prompting a beam deflection depending on the polarization.

[0038] Inasmuch as the doubling of the number of pixels remains compatible with the technology for making the multiple device for the creation of delays in open space, the solution proposed here above simplifies the implementation of the system by eliminating the need to maintain the polarization before the feeding of the multiple delay-creation system 5.

[0039] It may be noted that, because of its structure, the proposed system comprising a multiple delay-creation system S with polarization switches CP_(i) is reciprocal (i.e. a two-way system). It therefore enables the creation of microwave delays by optical means for beam shaping and aiming in array antennas working in transmission or reception especially in the case of electronic scanning antennas that have to work in a wide band.

[0040] As specified here above, the device 5 _(G) is not necessarily a multiple delay-creation device 5 with polarization switching but may be any type of device requiring linearly polarized beams at input.

[0041] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show two versions of the system according to FIG. 3 when the processing device 5 _(G) is a multiple delay-creation device.

[0042] The first version of the system shown in FIG. 4(a) is such that the multiple delay-creation device 5 _(G) comprises, for each group of orthogonal or almost orthogonal polarization beams, a multiple delay-creation device such as the multiple delay-creation device 5 of FIG. 1. It has for example:

[0043] n polarization switches CP_(i) (1≦i≦n), each polarization switch CP_(i) carrying out a similar switching of the two beams that correspond to the two polarization states of one and the same initial beam entering said system,

[0044] n polarization splitters/recombiners SP_(i) (1≦i≦n), each polarization splitter/recombiner SP_(i) separating and then recombining the two beams switched by the upline polarization switch CP_(i) with the other non-switched beams,

[0045] n delay devices R_(i) (1≦i≦n) each delay device R_(i) delaying the two beams split by the polarization splitter/recombiner SP_(i) by a same delay τ_(i) (1≦i≦n) before their recombination by the polarization splitter/recombiner SP_(i).

[0046] The second version of the system presented by FIG. 4(b) is such that the multiple delay-creation device 5 _(G) has a structure similar to that of the multiple delay-creation device 5 of FIG. 1. It comprises at least, on each of the two paths (j=1,2):

[0047] n polarization switches CP_(i) ^(j) (1≦i≦n and j=1,2), the polarization switch CP_(i) ^(j) of the first path and the polarization switch CP_(i) ² of the second path each, in a similar way, switching a beam corresponding to one of the two polarization states of an initial beam entering said system,

[0048] n polarization splitters/recombiners SP_(i) ^(j) (1≦i≦n and j=1,2), the polarization splitter/recombiner SP_(i) ^(j) separating and then recombining the beam switched by the upline polarization switch CP_(i) ^(j) with the other beams,

[0049] n delay devices R_(i) ^(j) (1≦i≦n and j=1,2), the delay device R_(i) ^(j) and the delay device R_(i) ² respectively delaying the beam separated by the polarization splitter/recombiner SP_(i) ¹ and the beam separated by the polarization splitter/recombiner SP_(i) ² by a same delay τ_(i) (1≦i≦n) before their recombination by, respectively, the polarization splitter/recombiner SP_(i) ¹ and the polarization splitter/recombiner SP_(i) ².

[0050] The splitters/recombiners SP₁, SP₂, . . . , SP_(n) are represented in FIG. 4(b) in proportions such that they facilitate the reading of FIG. 4(b) without being exhaustive. The proportions of the splitters/recombiners SP₁, SP₂, . . . , SP_(n) of FIG. 4(b) may for example be similar to those of the splitters/recombiners SP¹ ₁, SP¹ ₂ . . . SP¹ _(n) and SP² ₁, SP² ₂ . . . SP² _(n) of FIG. 4(a).

[0051] The multiple delay-creation device 5 _(G) is capable of delaying 2N beams, namely twice the number of the beams delayed by the multiple delay-creation device 5 of FIG. 1. For this purpose, the matrices of the polarization switches CP₁, CP₂, . . . , CP_(n) used by the multiple delay-creation device 5 _(G) have 2N pixels. The delays induced by the multiple delay-creation device 5 _(G) for the two groups of beams are such that two groups of orthogonal polarization beams coming from an initial beam entering the system shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) undergo the same delay τ₁, τ₂ . . . τ_(n) created by the delay devices of the first path R₁ ¹, R₂ ¹ . . . R_(n) ¹ and the second it) path R₁ ², R₂ ² . . . R_(n) ² in the case of FIG. 4(a) or the delay devices R₁, R₂, . . . , R_(n) in the case of FIG. 4(b).

[0052] The matrices of the polarization switches of the first path CP₁ ¹, CP₂ ¹ . . . CP_(n) ¹ and of the second path CP₁ ², CP₂ ² . . . CP_(n) ² may for example be identical (CP₁ ¹=CP₁ ², CP₂ ¹=C₂ ² . . . CP_(n) ¹=CP_(n) ²), as in FIG. 4(a). Or again the N first pixels CP₁ ¹, CP₂ ¹ . . . CP_(n) ¹ of the matrices of the polarization switches CP₁, CP₂, . . . , CP_(n) may for example be identical to the last N pixel CP₁ ², CP₂ ² . . . CP_(n) ² of the matrices of the polarization switches CP₁, CP₂, . . . , CP_(n) (CP₁ ¹=CP₁ ², CP₂ ¹=CP₂ ² . . . CP_(n) ¹=CP_(n) ²) as in the case of FIG. 4(b).

[0053] Let us follow an initial beam F which has to be delayed, for example by a duration τ₂+τ₅. This beam F is separated by the polarization splitter 51 _(M), according to two orthogonal or almost orthogonal polarization states, into two beams F¹ and F². The polarization switches CP₂ ¹ and CP₂ ² of FIG. 4(a) or the polarization switches CP₂ of FIG. 4(b) change the polarization state of the beams F¹ and F² such that respectively the polarization splitters SP₂ ¹ and SP₂ ² Of FIG. 4(a) or the polarization splitter SP₂ of FIG. 4(b) modify the route of these two beams F¹ and F² with respect to all the beams. The beams F¹ and F² are then delayed by a duration τ₂ either by the delay devices R₂ ¹ and R₂ ² of FIG. 4(a) or the delay device R₂ of FIG. 4(b). The polarization splitters SP₂ ¹ and SP₂ ² of FIG. 4(a) or the polarization splitter SP₂ Of FIG. 4(b) then recombine the delayed beams F¹ and F² with all the beams that have followed a direct route between the input of the polarization switches CP₂ ¹ and CP₂ ² of FIG. 4(a) or of the polarization switch CP₂ of FIG. 4(b) and the output of the polarization splitters SP₂ ¹ and SP₂ ² of FIG. 4(a) or of the polarization splitter SP₂ of FIG. 4(b). The delay τ₅ is applied in the same way. The polarization switch CP⁺ places the beam F¹ in a given polarization state identical for all the beams having followed the first route and the beam F² in a given polarization state identical for the all the beams having followed the second route. The polarization state of the beam F² is orthogonal or almost orthogonal to the state of the beam F¹. One of the beams F¹ or F² directly reaches one of the inputs of the polarization superposing element 51 _(V), and the other beam F² or F¹ is redirected by a mirror 52 _(V) to the second input of the superposing element 51 _(V) which then superposes the two delayed beams F¹ and F² so as to obtain the delayed beam F.

[0054] The multiple delay-creation device serving as a basis for the creation of the multiple delay-creation device 5 _(G) may also be any multiple delay-creation device other than the one presented in FIG. 1 such as for example those presented in the patent FR 2659754.

[0055] One variant of the system comprising a patent device requiring the reception of linearly polarized beams at input such as for example a multiple delay-creation device 5 _(G) may comprise only the element 51 _(M) upline from said collective delay-creation device 5 _(G). A system of this kind doubles the number of delays. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising a processing device that necessitates the reception of linearly polarized beams at input wherein it furthermore comprises at least: one element for polarization splitting in open space, placed upline from said device.
 2. A system according to the above claim, comprising at least: one polarization switch downline from said device, and one element for superposing polarization in open space downline from the polarization switch.
 3. A system according to one of the above claims, wherein the splitting element splits each entering beam into two routes corresponding to two polarization states, orthogonal or almost orthogonal.
 4. A system according to one of the above claims, wherein said device carries out an identical processing on the two states of one and the same initial beam.
 5. A system according to the above claim, wherein said device is a multiple delay-creation device with polarization switches.
 6. A system according to the above claim, wherein said multiple delay-creation device with polarization switches comprises at least the following, in common, on both routes: en polarization switches CP_(i) (1≦i≦n), n polarization splitters/recombiners SP_(i) (1≦i≦n), n delay devices R_(i) (1≦i≦n).
 7. A system according to claim 5 wherein said multiple delay-creation device with polarization switches comprises, at least, on each of the two routes (j=1,2): n polarization switches CP_(i) ^(j) (1≦i≦n and j=1,2), n polarization splitters/recombiners SP_(i) ^(j) (1≦i≦n and j=1,2), n delay devices R_(i) ^(j) (1≦i≦n and j=1,2).
 8. A system according to one of the above claims, wherein said polarization switch reorganizes the polarization states of the beams processed at output of said device so as to enable their recombination by the superposing element.
 9. A system according to one of the above claims, wherein said element for superposing polarization in open space recombines the beams for which the two polarization states have been reorganized by the polarization switch.
 10. A system according to one of the above claims, comprising at least one or more of the following elements: several fibers and an array of lenses, said array of lenses enabling the coupling of said fibers to the input of the splitter element, an array of lenses and several fibers, said array of lenses coupling the output of the superposing element to several fibers, said open space polarization splitting element comprising at least one polarization splitter giving two routes corresponding to the two polarization states followed by a mirror on one of the routes, said element for superposing polarization in open space comprising at least one mirror on one of the routes followed by a polarization recombiner receiving the two routes.
 11. A method comprising a step for the processing of linearly polarized beams, the method comprising at least the splitting of polarizations in open space achieved prior to said processing step.
 12. A method according to the above claim, comprising at least the following steps: an additional polarization switching achieved after said processing step, and the superposing of polarization in open space achieved after said additional switching step.
 13. A method according to one of the above claims 9 or 10 wherein the polarization splitting step separates the beams according to two polarization states, orthogonal or quasi-orthogonal.
 14. A method according to one of the claims 9 to 11, wherein the processing step is used to perform an identical processing on the two processing states of a same initial beam.
 15. A method according to the above claim, wherein the processing step is a multiple delay-creation step with polarization switching.
 16. A method according to one of the claims 9 to 13, wherein said additional polarization switching is used to reorganize the polarization of the beams so that the two orthogonal polarization beams coming from one beam are recombined during the superposing step.
 17. A method according to one of the claims 9 to 14, wherein the superposing of polarization achieves the superposing of the beams reorganized during the additional switching step. 